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Tuesday, January 3, 2012

The Daily Catch

The original Daily Catch in the North End is a no frills, cash only, hole-in-the wall establishment with a frenetic open kitchen, tight dining quarters and a usually lengthy wait as evidenced by patrons forming a line that runs a block down Hanover Street.

The uber casual, somewhat divey approach is all part of its charm - from the weathered tables and chairs, to the single chalkboard menu, the use of paper placemats, and especially the wine served in plastic cups. To start, the Fried Calamari ($9.75/small, $18.50/large) are an absolute must! Arguably some of the best in town, theirs achieves the ideal balance of crispy batter to toothsome tentacles, full of sweet ocean flavors with just a hint of olive oil. A dusting of fresh parsley, two juicy wedges of lemon and zesty marinara sauce for dipping finish off a perfect execution. The Sicilian style seafood dishes are fresh, authentic and served piping hot in the pan in which they were prepared. Every last drop of red sauce, garlic, olive oil and fresh herbs are all there for the party.

May I recommend the Tinta de Calamari -which is Homemade Black Pasta ($10.50/appetizer, $21/ entree). Of the three chalkboard varieties, I have tried two of them. One was on a visit quite a few years ago, while the other was just a couple months back. Both are equally deserving of my affections. The thick ribbons of squid ink pasta laced with sinfully good olive anchovy butter coil around sauteed mushrooms, onions and red and green peppers in the Putanesca, while the Aglio Olio incorporates plentiful amounts of briny ground squid and sautees it simply with lots of garlic and olive oil. A Hanover Street mainstay and often overlooked staple in the Boston seafood scene, the original Daily Catch with an unassuming presence, warm cheerful service, and authentic Italian seafood dishes will hopefully leave you nothing short of impressed.